Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-09-23
Our HeIjghl,r' 5 Politics.
NO ANTI MAHONE NOR PROHL-
BITION DEMONSTRAT iON DIS
IURBS THE ROCKLNGHAM
REP UBLICANS.


REP UBLICANS.
LEGISLATURES IN ROCKINGHAM-A
SPIRITED CONVENTION AND. STRONG
NOMINATIONs-NO ANTI CAUCUS NOR
ANTI-WHIsKEY INTERRUPTS II E
SMOOTH PLAN OF THE MALONE RE-
PUBLICANs.
&C., &C., &C.
reported for the Staunton VINDIoAToR.1
HARRIsoNBURG, SEPT. II.
| came here this morning because the
unique conditions attending the political
situation led me to expect something
new. In that light my trip was a water
haul. In another light it was anything
but water haul. Rockingham is the
home of what is called the Lewis faction
of the Republican party, though it now
represents so widespread a feeling in that
party that it may be said to have outgrown
that name. The Oldest and most prominent
member it, LIT. Gov. Lewis, has had the
boldness-something he never lacks-to
put in cold type his views of Malone and
his party management. views not at al
complimentary TO that gentleman. 1t was
here, if anywhere, that we might have eX-
pected the test of a resolution exacting
from the nominees a pledge not to enter
caucus for the Senatorship. Nothing Of
: the sort was done or attempted
NO THIRD PARTY.
In yet another light my visit was not
water-haul. The Prohibition element is
stronger IN Rockingham than in any
county in the Valley. 1 speak now of
strength that has been ascertained at the
polls. Lately. the Prohibition Of the sale
of liquor was carried in three out of the
five districts of the county by very decided
majorities. 1t is here that we might ma
turally look for third party ticket. There
has been none attempted, nor has
| there been even al attempt to get pledges
| from the Republican nominees of to-day
against the repeal of the Local Option, Or
on any other subject, that can hear of,
connected with the Prohibition cause.
A VAGUE PROHIBITION PROGRAMME.
| Before the nominating convention met,I
was informed that conference was being
held by the leading Prohibition1sts. in
Guiding President A.. p. Funkhouser, a
prominent Republican who is the head of
the organization In the county. At that
conference, [ was informed, a resolu.
J tion had been prepared which would be
introduced at the convention and which
+, would give those gentlemen seeking the
nomin ations "a cold chill down their backs ),
I waited patiently for such denouement.
| The candidates we're put in nomination
before the convention, the roll was called
by President Funkhouser himself, the
nominations made, and the nominees
came forward and accepted with backs
apparently as warm as those of the Prohl-
bltionists themselves. Indeed, when I
came to look back at the proceedings, it
appeared rather as If the Prohibit1onistS
had gotten chill down thear backs. [ had
brief conversation with President Funk
houser after that, in which If there had
been any such resolution contemplated by
the Prohibition conference he did not men,
ton 1T. He said that the conference had
adopted some resolutions, and the tenor of
them was that the Prohibitionists would
wait until both parties had nominated,
and then see which candidates would go
farthest, if elected, in enforcing Local
Option! Such programme is so vague that
it is bard to comment on it. 1t is possible
that after the State Conference at Staun-
ton, Friday, and after hearing flOm the
| Augusta county Prohibitlonists who have
walked off into the water by themselves,
this programme may be amended. 1t GER
tainly needs amendment ii It's authors ex-
pect to command the full confidence of
the people A policy which leaves the
Prohibition influence open to individual
bids III certain contingencies, is just the
thing that subjects Prohibition to the sus-
piclon of being a near cut to personal
advantage rather than great moral
crusade.
THE SORT OF ANTI MALONE CANDI-
DATES.
AS always when 1 come to political con-
ventiOns, made the rounds of prominent
workers in both political parties, to get
their opinions. The names to be before
the convention for the House were J. H
Shipp of Est Rockingham, w. S. Lurty,
ex-U. S. District Attorney, Samuel Ii.
Lewis, SON Of 1t. GOV. Lewis, DR.. Jos.
r. Webb, former member of the House,
and John E. Sanger, a farmer and mer-
chant Of Brldgewater. The only name
for the Senate was that of John Acker,
who represented the county in the House
last session. 1t was not long before 1
found out that the ticket was Acker for
the Senate and Webb and Sanger for the
House. 1 came to this conclusion the
more readily because was told by a Dam
ocrat that Acker and Sanger were claimed
by some of the Republicans to be "anti
Malone men," [ carried this information
to Republican who assured me with a
look of iDdescribably comic gravity that
1t was true.
''And they won't vote for Malone for
U. S. Senator3" asked wondering how
two real anti-M ahone men could be run
ming on the same ticket with DR.. Webb.
''Oh; we'll, suppose they would vote
for Malone if tie caucus nominated him.
You DON'T expect them to vote for John
S. Barbour, do you?'
In short, as far as l could gather, the
whole thing of Opposition to Malone Pas
far as the bulk of the Republican party
was concerned, was regarded as huge joke
to be played on few Republicans and all
the Democrats who would take 1T in. The